Friday, July 19, 2013

Daily Devotional Thought--From the Lutheran Confessions

It’s Friday, and so we turn
our attention to the Augsburg Confession.
This week’s article considers The
Use of the Sacraments.

Collect of the Week

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us
from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love
our neighbors as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Article XIII (The Use of
the Sacraments)

1 Our churches
teach that the Sacraments were ordained, not only to be marks of profession
among men, but even more, to be signs and testimonies of God’s will toward us. 2
They were instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them.
Therefore, we must use the Sacraments in such a way that faith, which believes
the promises offered and set forth through the Sacraments, is increased [2
Thessalonians 1:3].

3 Therefore,
they condemn those who teach that the Sacraments justify simply by the act of
doing them. They condemn those who do not teach that faith, which believes that
sins are forgiven, is required in the use of the Sacraments. (Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions.
Edited by Paul Timothy McCain. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005,
S. 38).

Note:

God gives the
Sacraments to His people for their forgiveness, life, and salvation, and this
happens as they call forth trust and confidence in Christ, the Savior. By the
sixteenth century, the Roman Church had developed a complicated sacramental
system that had transformed the Sacraments into meritorious works performed by
priests. This was especially evident in the Mass, where priests “sacrificed”
Christ again and again on behalf of the living and the dead. The Bible,
however, reveals the key to the Sacraments: the promises of God. God attaches
His Word of promise to the element of the Sacrament—water, wine, or bread—and
gives and strengthens the faith of those receiving them. (See also Ap XIII.)
(Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. Edited by Paul Timothy McCain. St. Louis,
MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005, S. 38)

Prayer

Almighty, everlasting God,
for our many sins we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your mercy You
sent Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who won for us forgiveness of sins
and everlasting salvation. Grant us a true confession that, dead to sin, we may
be raised up by Your life-giving absolution. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we
may be ever watchful and live true and godly lives in Your service; through
Jesus Christ, our Lord (LSB,
collect #153).